Dyeing apparatus



arch 1, 1938. E. J. `ABBOTT 2,109,893

DYEING APPARATUS Original Filed June 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet lv O 0 O O O O O O o O O O Q O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O 0 0 O O 0 O 0 O O O 0 O O O U 0 o 0 D O O O O W 4 fwd/witg?, l Edward JA Zat,

E. J. ABBOTT 2,109,893

y DYEING APPARATUS Original Filed June 25, 1 950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mgr. 1, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE y DYEmG APPARATUS Edward J. Abbott, Wilton, N. H., assigner to Abbott Machine Company, Wilton, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Original application June 25, 1930, Serial No.

463,649.y Divided and this application 1935, Serial No. 18,206

3 claims.

substantial uniformity of product and under improved conditions and .ease of operation.

"As respects certain aspects of the invention,

the kettle` or vat may be either of the open or closed type and may be used in carrying out any of the usual methods of dyeing or other fluid treatment of textiles or the like, but I have herein chosen to illustrate the invention as embodied, by way of example, in an open topped kettle or vat equipped for pressure dyeing or fluid treating yarns, slivers, etc.,` wound upon spools.

The present' invention provides an improvement in the apparatus for changing the fluid in the dye kettle. The kettle is provided with means for admitting fresh water at a point near the bottom of the kettle, and with an outlet for discharging water from a point near the' top` of the kettle. An overflow pipe leads from the outlet to a point below the bottom of the kettle, so that when the uid in the kettle rises and Q completely fills the outlet, the weight of the wapiement'of spools;

ter column in the overflow pipe creates a mo: tion effect increasingthe'velocity of .flow through view of one em- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section show"v ing pressure relief means which may be used when the kettle is not provided with its full com- T Fig. 4 is a top viewto ferred form of drive shaft bearing; and

Fig. 5 is a small scale, diagrammatic section,

y at right angles to the section of Fig.r1, showing the arrangement of the inlet pipe.

While 'my invention may be of more general utility, I regard itas particularly desirable in its larger scaleof a pre.

April 25 v illustrated embodiment in apparatus for spool dyeing yarn or the like. I numeral I l designates'a dye vat or kettle having a bottom 2 and a false bottom 3 spaced from the bottom 2 to provide a plenum chamber 4 between them. The false bottom 3 has a plurality of openings, each preferably provided with a tubular bushing sleeve ll, the lower ends of the sleeves resting upon the bottom 2, while the upper end of each sleeve or bushing is provided with an annular seat-flange 1 adapted to support the lower end of a spool B. The lower part of each bushing is provided with one or more elongate slots I2 permitting the flow of fluid from the plenum chamber upwardly and into the hollow barrel of the spool resting upon the seatange I and thence outwardly through suitablel perforations. I4 in the spool barrel, so that liquid supplied under pressure to the plenum cham' ber flows out through the yarn or roving wound upon the spool barrels.

Referring to Fig. l, the

A vertical rod 5, anchored at its lower end to the bottom 2, projects upwardly and axially through each bushing II and is provided with suitable means for clamping a spool 6 against the corresponding seat 1. Preferably these rods 5 are reduced in diameter at their lower portions,

providing shoulders at |00 which bear upon the lower ends o f the corresponding bushing I I. Since the seat flange I of the bushing rests upon the upper surface of the false bottom 3, and the shoulder on rod 5 holds the lower end of the bushing against the bottom 2 the two bottom members are rmly clamped together and kept from,spreading,-avery necessary feature in a wooden kettle. Such clamping means preferably vcomprises a retaining cap B- or the like, adapted to bear against the top of the spool 6 and to close 'the upper end of the tubular spool barrel being held tightly against the upper end of the spool by -a nut 5 engaging the screw threaded upper end 'of the rod 5; As shown at the right of Fig. 1, the cap 8 for a selected one of the spools may carry an upward extension 6 adapted to project above the highest possible liquid level within the dye vat, such extension being closed at its upper end by a cap 8b held in place by a suitable clamping nut 5b engaging the corresponding rod 5. 'Ihis arrangement permits such spool to be unclamped (without lowering the level of the hot dye liquor) for sampling purposes.

The false bottom 3 is provided with a large opening 3 preferably centrally located, and a vertically disposed hollow column 20 is arranged to extend upwardly concentrically with this opening 3a from the false bottom 3 to a point above the top of the kettle. Preferably this column consists of a plurality of aligned sections, the lower section which is within the kettle preferably being perforated, as indicated at 22, to serve as a strainer. The fluid within the dye kettle .proper freely enters the column throughthese perforations and passes downwardly through the opening 3al into the plenum chamber l. At the lower end of the column 20, I arrange a spider-v like frame 2.3, which supports a suitable bearing 24 in which a vertical drive shaft 25 is mounted. This shaft preferably extends downwardly below the bearing and carries a suitable pump impeller 2li at or near its lower end, such impeller preferably being arranged directly within the opening 3a in the false bottom, the opening, if desired, being furnished with a lining sleeve or bushing 21. The pumpv impeller 26* is preferably of the axial flow type, for example,.a screw propeller, and the shaft 25 may be connected to any suitable (preferably reversible) driving means, for example, an electric motor 26 mounted upon the upper end of the column 2l.

A part 40 v(conveniently a metal casting) is ax'- ranged directly below the column 2l between the false bottom 3 and the true bottom 2 of the kettle, and acts to brace the central part of the false bottom and to support the weight of the column and parts carried thereby. This casting 40 preferably has a plurality of downwardly and outwardly curved ducts or passages 4l' having walls which tend to overcome any tendency of the liquid to swirl or take up a marked rotary motion within the plenum chamber. These pas sages compel the liqui'cl to enter the plenum chamber in a plurality of independent and substantially horizontal streams, such passages'communicating at their upper ends with the opening 3a and at their lower ends with the plenum space 4.

A hollow truste-conical portion Il of the part 40 is arranged directly below the center of the pump impeller 26 and denes the lower walls of the passages 40e. A supply pipe 56 is arranged to deliver steam or other hot uid into the chamber in part 4l and from this chamber ducts 42 lead outwardly to the passages 4U", so as to deliver the hot steam into the uid owing through said passages 40, thereby heating the huid without substantial tendency to produce hammer, and at the same time utilizing the kinetic energy of the steam for increasing the velocity of the flowing fluid.

The bearing 24 above referred to is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. This bearing preferably comprises a tubular shell 60 carrying spaced inwardly projecting wooden plugs or blocks 6l the inner faces of which substantially denne a cylindrical surface of the diameter of the drive shaft 25. The grain of the wood of these elements Il is preferably disposed radially in relation to the' shaft, so that the end of the grain provides the bearing surface. This arrangement gives-a suitable non-metallic bearing for the shaft, which is not injuriously affected by the dye liquor, and which leaves ample room between the bearing c elements 6I for axial movement of the lliquid which is depended upon for lubrication of the shaft and bearing. 4In contrast to a plain bushwhile the tendency of a plain wooden bushing to shrink and crack in hot liquids, alkalies, acids, etc., is avoided.

Preferably, although not necessari1yI provide a sleeve 3l' to enclose the drive shaft 25, said sleeve having a few openings 39 permitting entrance to fluid-into the space about the shaft. 'I'his sleeve or guard prevents the rotating shaft from causing cavitation of the liquid above the pump impeller, while the openings 39 permit sufilcient liquid to enter the space about the shaft to aord adequate lubrication for the bearing.

Supply pipes 12 and 13, leading from 'I2l and 13* respectively and providedl with thev necessary controlling valves, are arranged to deliver water, dye liquor, or the like to a strainer S, from which a pipe P (Fig. 2) leads downwardly (preferably within the kettle) to a point closely adjacent to the upper surface ofthe false bottom 3 as most clearly mown in Fig. 5. j

Any usual drain connection 14 may be arranged to lead from the bottom of the plenum chamber,

said drain being controlled by a valve of suitable type, preferably actuated by a handle H disposed Y at a convenient point.` An open overow pipe 15 leads from an outlet opening 16 near the top of the kettle downwardly to a discharge below the level of the kettle bottom, said outlet opening defining the maximum height of the dye liquor in the kettle.

The cap 8" at the upper end of the extension 6l (already described) is preferably disposed above the lower part of the opening 16so that the cap 8b and the nut 5b are exposed above the surface of the fluid in the kettle during the dyeing operation.

The arrangement of inlet and outletpipes just described is of great advantage in connection with the rinsing process, since for rinsing the material it is merely necessary to admit fresh water through the pipe P which enters through the strainer S and rising in the lower part of the kettle gradually displaces the warm and dirty or spent dye liquor in the kettle, such dirty or spent liquor flowing out through the outlet 16 and the pipe 16. When the water rises with sunicient rapidity to ll the outlet opening 16, the column of water in the pipe 15 (which extends to a point below the bottom of the kettle) produces a suction effect which materially increases the velocity of flow through the kettle, thus cutting down the time of the rinsing operation.' This method of rinsing also substantially prevents the mixture of incoming clean water and the outilowing dirty water so that the saving of water necessary, as

, well as in the time consumed in the operation is considerable.

As above noted the motor 26 is preferably supported by the fixed column 20, the latter being arranged at lthe center of the kettle. This arrangement leaves the entire peripheral portion of the kettle top free and unobstructed so that the spoolsmay readily be placed in the kettle and removed therefrom without interference from shafts or motor supports extending transversely of the kettle top.

Preferably the upper portion of 'the column' 2l terminates in a flange 20* adjacent the top of the kettle and an extension 2| of the column is secured to this flange in any desired manner, this extension 'forming the immediate support for.

the motor. Preferably this extension is provided' aioaeea erably the shaft 25 is connected to the motor shaft proper by means of a coupling id which comprises radial ange members, such coupling being disposed within the extension member 2l and above the septum Ti. Thus any grease flowing down the motor shaft will be thrown outwardly from the coupling it by centrifugal action and will accumulate in the upper part of the extension 2l and will be caught by the septum and its upturned lip 'it so that the grease can not pass downwardly.

lThe motor is preferably of the air cooled type having an outer shell or casing C provided at its upper end with an inlet which may if desired be connected by a pipe im to a source of fresh cool ain-for example, this pipe may extend to the outside of the building. Within this casing there is arranged a fan F, preferably of centrifugal type, that is to say having straight blades so that it will deliver a current of air in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor. The air thus set into motion cools. the motor and is then delivered from the lower part of the casing between the flange iii and attaching flanges 82 by means of which the motoris secured to the extension 2l. These several anges cause the air discharged from the casing to move outwardly and downwardly in a more or less conical or umbrella shapedA stream which passes' transversely across the open top of the kettle and thus entrains and carries away steam and vapor rising from the kettle top. l V j The motor is preferablyl ofreversible type so that the pump impeller 26 may be turned in v either direction at will', thus causing the dye liquor to flow radially .of the spool, either inwardly or outwardly as may be preferred, it being noted I `that by placing the impeller within the large opening 3a in the false bottom 3. the operation of the impeller, even at high speeds, does not produce any substantial cavitation effect, so that for anymotor speed a substantially constant and predetermined pressure may be maintained even though the dye liquor is at the boiling point.

When using aconstant speed motor, theI speed is so determined with reference to the pitch and size of thepump impeller 3 and with reference to the number of spools and the thickness of material wound thereon 'as to maintain within the plenumchamber 4, the constant pressure necessary to ensure the proper uid velocity through the material on the spools. If, however, for any reason the full complement of spools should not be used, and oneor more of the seats l were to be completely closed in order to maintain the desired uid flow through the spools on the other seats, it is found that with a constant speed motor, the pressure in the plenum chamber would rise with accompanying rise in fluid velocity, and to avoid this condition I prefer, as illustrated-in Fig. 3,

to provide valve members 83 adapted to be associated with any vacant seat 1 for normally closing the opening through said seat. Preferably such-valve members 83 are cylindrical plugs of a diameter adapted to close the opening through the seat, each plug having an axial opening for the lreception of a clamping rod 5 so that the plug may slide vertically on the rod. When one of the seats 'l is to be left vacant (that is, unprovided with a filled spool) the valve member B3 is slipped over the clamping rod 5 and allowed to drop onto the seat, the weight of the valve member being such that if the pressure in the plenum chamber rises beyond a predetermined amount, the valve will automatically rise ln response to the pressure and allow some of the dye liquor to escape through the ropening in seat l. Preferably when using such a valve plug d3, I clamp an empty spool on the seat which is lclosed by the plug, the barrel of the spool, being of sumcient diameter to receive the plug freely without interfering with the rise and fall of the latter. I find the spool surrounding the plug to beadvantageous since it breaks up the stream of fluid escaping from beneath the valve plug, which, if 'permitted to enter in a single rapidly flowing stream., might cause snarling or injury to the stock on adjacent spools.

If desired, a variable speed motor may be used insteadl of the Vsingle speed motor `above referred to and in such case the relief or safety valves may or may not be employed as desired.` If a multi-speed motor is employed, I find that a standard alternating current three-phase motor wound to give different speeds provides the requisite change in pump velocity for different condi# tions, and such motors are relatively inexpensive and may 'be controlled in a very simple way.

In referring to the use of the safety valve 83, it was stated that the barrel of the spool was large enough to receive the valve plug without interfering with the movements of the latter. 'I'he large barrel spools I find to be highly advantageous from the standpoint of uniformity of production, since, assuming that the head of the spool is of normal diameter, the large barrel limits the thickness of the material wound on the spool and thus prevents abnormal difference in the velocity of the fluid at the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the material wound on the spool. Thus a spool which is forty inches long between its heads, and has heads ten and onehalf inches in diameter, with a barrel six inches inexternal diameter is found in practice to ensure a velocity of radial flow not more than 60% greater at the inner periphery of the material than at the outer periphery. This is highly important since it is desirable to maintain as high a velocity as is permissible in order to cut down the time of the operation while at the same time to avoid a velocity which will cause blowingand tangling of the material. In other words, by the employment of a spool of this type, the thickness of the material which may be wound on the spool is-kept within-the predetermined minimum limits desirable for the best results. Moreover, by the employment of spools which limit the thickness of' material as stated, it is possible to circulate the liquid with considerably less than the customary pressure, and in much larger volume. For example, in a five hundred'pound kettle holding six Y or seven hundred gallons, the liquid may be circulated at the rate of one thousand gallons per minute at approximately three pounds pressure and with 'a power consumption of from eight to ten lhorse power per kettle, whereas with the usual arrangement, a circulation of from two to four hundred gallons per minute requires'the ex-` penditure of from ten to fifteen horse power. Not

only is the present arrangement economical of power but by lreason of thelarge volume-of liquid 'preshrinking treatment of certain types of yarn.

In dealing with some kinds of yarn, for example,

mohair or coarse wool, it is found that when the yarn is wet, the longer iibers shrink more than the shorter ones, giving the yarn a cockled or boucl appearance. When such yarn is woven or otherwise used it has little ultimate strength since all of the bers do not come into action at the same time to carry the stress, and it has been customary as a preliminary step in the dyeing operation to wind such yarn upon a stretcher or reel, immerse it in hot water, and then expose it to warm air to dry and set the bers, after which the material may be dyed without cockling. The same results may readily be obtained by the use of the apparatus above described by winding the yarn under heavy tension on the perforated spool, which is then placed in the kettle, and subjected to the action oi hot water and then dried. The heavy tension necessary fory this setting operation would make so densea mass that it could not be uniformly dyed on the spools in this form, although the hot water may be circulated to an extent sumcient to set the yarn. After drying, the yarn is then rewound but under less tension upon a spool of the same kind and may be restored to the dye kettle for the dyeing operation.

Doubtless other uses of the improved apparatus will occur to those familiar with the textile arts, it being understood that various changes in relative arrangement, size, proportion of parts, and substitution of equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for the fluid treatment ol textile material wound on hollow perforate spools, com-- prlsing a kettle, a false bottom in the kettle providing a plenum chamber in the lower part of the kettle, spool supports in the false bottom aiording communication between the plenum chamber and the interiors of the hollow spools, a vertical perforate column into which and through which the treating liquid is adapted to ow to the plenum chamber, a liquid impeller associated with the lower part of said column for forcing liquid from the column into the plenum chamber. a. conduit'ior discharging rinse water into the kettle near its bottom but above the impeller, and an overflow drain conduit leading from the kettle near the top thereof.

2. Apparatus for the fluid treatment of textile material wound on hollow perforate spools, comprising a kettle, spool supports for holding the spools vertically during treatment in the kettle, means for supplying treating liquid under pressure to the interiors of the spools, said liquidsupplying means including a Vertical perforate column adapted to collect liquid from a, plurality of levels in the kettle and a fluid impeller associated with the lower part of the column for pumping said liquid from the column into the interiors of the spools and through the material wound thereon, a conduit for discharging rinse water into the kettle near its bottom but above the lmpeller, and an overflow drain conduit leading from the kettle near the top thereof.

3. Apparatus for the fluid treatment of textile material wound on hollow perforate spools, comprising a kettle, spool supports for holding the spools vertically during treatment ln the kettle, means for supplying treating liquid under pressure to the interiors of the spools, said liquidsupplying means including a 'vertical perforate column adapted to collect liquid from a plurality of levels in the kettle and a fluid impeller associated with the lower part of the column for pumping said liquid from the column into the interiors of the spools and through the material wound thereon, a conduit for discharging rinse Water into the kettle near its bottom but above the lmpeller, and an overflow drain conduit leading from the kettle near the top thereof, the overflow drain conduit extending down below the bottom oi' the kettle so that the weight of a water column in the drain conduit creates a suction eflect increasing the velocity of flow through the kettle. g

EDWARD J. ABBOTT. 

